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Sound Off!: Ben Sollee

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MP3: Ben Sollee – A Few Honest Words

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MP3: Ben Sollee – Bend

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MP3: Ben Sollee – A Change Is Gonna Come

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MP3: Ben Sollee – Dear Kanye

You may or may not recall one of last year’s most remarkable releases, the self-titled LP from Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet.  I can’t emphasize enough how truly innovative that album is.

But it turns out 1/4 of the Sparrows, Louisville KY-hailing cellist Ben Sollee, happens to have some rather remarkable solo work as well.  Much like his elder contemporaries in the Sparrow Quartet (notably the legendary Béla Fleck who we interviewed here), Sollee takes his instrument of choice and stretches its sound to the limits, adeptly bowing, plucking, slapping, bending tones to his will.  Impeccably nuanced playing that steadily morphs from technical origins in classical conservatories to traditional styles rooted in deep rural, urban and mainstream America.

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Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet – Self-Titled (Nettwerk)

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MP3: Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet – Kangding Qingge (Old Timey Dance Party)

It is rare to find a musician that has a transformative journey, and manages to maturely incorporate de novo influence without awkwardly losing their own identity.  Abigail Washburn manages to balance her myriad influences nearly perfectly, the two most odd bed-fellows being American and Chinese folk.  Washburn began her long-standing love of Chinese culture and music during a life-shaping trip to China when she was only 18.  She frequently cites this trip as inspiration for her own explorations in American culture and tradition.

This, only her sophomore album, is a jaw-dropping manifesto on the universal language and nature of music, possessing a truly unique sound.  To say that there is a seamless integration of all Washburn’s influences into each track is a gross-understatement, bordering on disservice.  The opening volley provides a good primer for the sounds of the album.  Entitled “Overture,” it is just that: an opening…a beautiful, broad introduction.  A sweeping medley of the musical styles and landscape that Washburn explores over the course of the album, peppered with strains and themes from every track. Read the rest…

Bonnaroo 2008: Day 3 in Review

nice sax and tubaAs I meandered over to the Which Stage to wait for Sharon Jones, I heard strains of brass-driven jazz.  Soul Rebels Brass Band weren’t in the booklet schedule, but they more than satisfied my desire for groovy funk.  They combine a hip-hop approach to performance with jazz, funk and reggae.  Obviously really talented instrumentalists and veteran jamsters, they formed some tight, impromptu sounding grooves that really energized the crowd.

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